As the LA fires rage, "transient man" named Jose Carranza-Escobar arrested for starting fires | Law Enforcement Today

AZUSA, CA- Authorities with the Azusa Police Department (APD) announced that a man has been arrested on suspicion of purposely starting a brush fire during the night on Friday, January 10th.

According to NBC4, first responders were called to Pioneer Park just after 11:30 p.m. Upon arriving on scene, a witness told police that the man who started the fire was still at the scene. Officers were able to locate the suspect, who was standing right next to the flames he allegedly started. The suspect has been identified as Jose Carranza-Escobar.

Escobar was detained by police and later admitted to starting the fire; he was then arrested for arson. Police believe Escobar is homeless. Thankfully, the Los Angeles Fire Department, who is still battling the destructives fires that have demolished whole neighborhoods over the last several days, was able to quickly extinguish the fire.

This incident comes as authorities are investigating another individual who was spotted near where the Kenneth Fire began in West Hill. According to NBC4, it has not yet been determined if the person being investigated is responsible for the West Hills fire. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said that an emergency call was received on Thursday, January 9th, at 4:32 p.m. in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road about a possible arson suspect.

A man was overheard saying a suspect was "trying to light a fire." The suspect was found and taken into custody. As of this writing, the LAPD is still "unable to confirm any connection to any fires started by this suspect as this time." The New York Post reported a different individual was arrested on suspicion of arson near the Kenneth Fire after residents in the area helped detain the man they saw using a "flamethrower."

The unidentified suspect was seen riding around Woodland Hills on a bicycle on Thursday, afternoon setting fire to several old Christmas trees and garbage cans at the same time that the Kenneth Fire started. One resident, Renata Grinshpun, said she was in her backyard when she heard a car screech to a stop and a man yelling, "Neighbors, he's trying to start a fire! Call 911!"

She said she saw the suspect holding a large "propane tank or a flamethrower," which others in the area described as a blowtorch, as he tried to torch debris in the street. Neighbors jumped into action and cornered the man as he tried to ride off. Grinshpun said, "We really banded together as a group. A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope and we were able to do a citizens' arrest."

Soon after the suspect was taken into custody, the LAPD confirmed it was investigating the Kenneth Fire as likely arson. LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sean Dinse said in a statement, "At this time, that's what we believe. It's being investigated as a crime." However, as of this writing, the suspect, who was described as homeless, has only been arrested on a felony parole violation because "there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson." LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said, "The investigation is ongoing, however."

The Kenneth Fire broke out in West Hills Thursday afternoon and has since exploded to 960 acres as of Friday. It continues to rip through Ventura County. Five separate fires sparked Tuesday morning, January 7th, and days later have ravaged over 30,000 acres in Los Angeles County, causing mass destruction and evacuation.

After the brush fire in Azusa was put out, APD wrote in a social media post, "Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect they county. We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires. The Azusa Police Department has staffed extra officers on duty due to the ongoing fire situation. We are taking a 'zero tolerance' stance on these types of criminal acts."